Flemington

27 This story featured in the recent edition of the VRC’s Equine Welfare Bulletin. Enjoy more stories covering topics related to veterinary and research, post-racing careers, VRC & the industry, facilities and practices, and #LovetheHorse on the Equine Welfare Bulletin site here: https://www.vrc.com.au/equine-welfare-bulletin/ “When someone close to you dies, your life takes on different priorities and, although Wendy gave us time to try and find a way of coming up with the money needed to buy him, it was desperately hard to find a buyer, especially one in Australia, who would allow Clifford to stay with me,” says Hazel. “We were running out of options so when Terry and Ginette came on board, it seemed like a miracle. I will be forever grateful. It was something that happens in a story, not in real life, and something I could never have imagined happening to me.” “Buying Clifford was absolutely the right thing to do,” says Terry Snow, an Australian billionaire with a passion for the Australian Stock Horse. “Hazel is dedicated, hardworking and has shown that she has the making of an Olympian. Pair that with the soundness, tenacity and reliability of this Australian-bred thoroughbred and they are the making of an Olympic combination,” says Terry. Terry and Ginette’s faith was rewarded when Hazel and Willingapark Clifford once again took the CCI5* win in Adelaide in 2018. “The second time was even more amazing in a way because it really showed that the first time wasn’t a fluke!” says Hazel. “Even though we had done it before, it’s still really tough to get through a CCI5* competition and so it should be – it’s the pinnacle of our sport.” 2019 certainly saw changes at the Aus3DE with the cross country course reversed and quite different to that of previous years, but it proved no problem for Hazel and Willingapark Clifford who moved into the lead, moving up from second place after the dressage to take a historic third win. And the story doesn’t end there. At 16 years of age, Hazel says that Clifford is ready to tackle another CCI5*. “I certainly think that he would like to do another 5*, if not more! He’s raring to go and not showing any signs of ageing so I hope we’ll be out there at top level a few more times. He knows his job so well now, he saves his energy for when he needs it but when he sets out on cross country, he gives his all and feels like he can go around again when we’ve finished.”